Mount Albert Sports Day 5km Run/Walk
Come for the run, stay for the fair!
Race Day: Saturday June 1st, 2024.
For every racer who registers, we will donate $1 to the Mount Albert Food Pantry
Race Day Schedule:
7:45 AM – Meet under the Pavilion on the grounds of the Mount Albert Community Centre (53 Main Street) for the following:
Welcome
National Anthem
Warm Up
8:15 AM – Participants make their way to the Start Line (Main Street)
8:30 AM – Race Starts Promptly!
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Medal Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Community Sponsor
Awards
Race record male and female: $100 cash prize each
The male race record is currently 15:28 (Mario Iozzo, in 2006)
The female race record is currently 16:32.6 (Tamara Jewett, in 2015)
Only one male and one female are eligible each year.
If 2+ people run faster than the current record, the fastest time will be the new record holder and receive the award
First place Male and Female: $50 cash prize each
First place Male and Female Mount Albert resident: $50 cash prize each
First place Family: $100 cash prize
First place Team: medals
First place in each age category: $20 cash
Medals 3 deep (first, second, third) in each age category:
10 years & under
11-13 years
14-16 years
17-19 years
20-29 years
30-39 years
40-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
70+ years
Notes:
Everyone who completes the run will receive a finisher medal
There is no duplication in awards:
The male or female who wins the first overall award cannot win an award for first place in their age category.
Team and Family members do participate at the individual level for overall and age group awards.
Winners must be present to receive draw prizes.
Prizes
All bib numbers are automatically entered for a random prize draw. Racers must be present to collect draw prizes.
Donor
Prize
Two (2) Car Wash Passes
Gift Basket
Gift Basket
Girl's Scooter
Another Girl's Scooter!
One Hour Bowling Pass
Gift Basket
Gift Basket
Dining Gift Card
Two (2) Movie Passes
Two (2) All Day Fishing Passes
Two (2) Summer Full Farm Passes
One 5-Pass for Yoga Classes
Gift Basket
Four (4) tickets (Mon, Wed or Thu only until 11th July 2024). Retail value $168.
Two (2) Green fees (includes power cart) valid anytime Mon-Fri or after 12pm weekends/holidays. Retail value $230.
Two (2) Green fees (includes power cart) valid anytime Mon-Fri or after 12pm weekends/holidays. Retail value $230.
About The Race
Directions
The Course
The Mount Albert Sports Day 5k Run/Walk is situated in the small community of Mount Albert, Ontario, just 20 minutes north-east of Newmarket. The race starts and finishes at the Mount Albert Community Centre under the Start/Finish Gantry and runs east along Main Street. At Centre Street, the course turns left (north) to follow the rolling hills of Centre Street. Runners and walkers will pass the local businesses and into the subdivisions of Mount Albert. Many residents line the course to cheer on the participants. About a kilometre and a half into the run, the scenery turns more rural with farmer’s fields now in view. Just past Doane Road, there is a turn-around point that shoots the participants back south along Centre Street. This is the 2km mark.
Not far past the turn-around, the course turns right (west) on King Street. There is a water station on the right hand side around the 3km mark. The course continues to be rolling and winds to the left as the racers follow King Street through the lines of houses. After that bend, the race becomes a false flat, and the participants are treated to a downhill finish. Not long after the 4km mark, the course turns left (east) onto Main Street towards the finish. Here, many families and friends are out to show support along the race route. The finish line is in sight.
The race finishes at the west edge of the Mount Albert park under the big FINISH banner!
The route was formally measured and certified in 2013 and has not changed since.
Start/finish elevation 818', highest elevation 841', lowest elevation 779'. 100% paved.
Road Closures – Bylaw in effect
Please note that starting at 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM Saturday the above race course will be closed off to motorized vehicles. Please plan to leave early if needed, or park your car outside the race route. We will have children and adults on the course. The race route will be police patrolled.
The History of the Mount Albert 5k Run/Walk
The annual Mount Albert Sports Day 5k Run/Walk is held on the first Saturday in June. The race route and passes through the residential and business sections of Mount Albert into the slightly rolling countryside. It encourages racers of all ages and abilities. The race is fun and family-focused.
In previous years, racers received free entrance into the fair on race day. Unfortunately, we are unable to afford this offer this year.
2002
Michal Fairburn had the children of Mount Albert run through parts of the town, on the streets and through the trails.
This was held on the Saturday morning of Sports Day Weekend.
The race went so well and so enjoyed by the kids and their parents that Michal got a committee together the next year. The Mount Albert Sports Day 5k Run was born!
2003
The race started out going west along King Street and ended on a brief downhill after rounding past the TD Bank, onto Main Street.
2004
The race was taken over by Jen and Ray Mark. The race changed direction to accommodate the businesses along Centre Street, which are open on Saturday mornings. The race continued to grow over the next few years.
2005
The race acknowledged the many walkers taking part, adding a walking category (for the top 3 walkers).
The race records were set by Mario Iozzo (15:28) in 2006 and Sarah Nagy (17:57) in 2007.
2008
A team category was added and had instant success.
2009
Lee Sitarz took over as race director, and continued to keep the race alive.
2010
Elizabeth and Ray Gillis became the race directors, and turned the race into a business – allowing for growth and excitement in the future.
2011
Elizabeth was joined by Jen Mark again - 281 participants - a record! And our first thunderstorm mid-race.
2012
Success in our 10th anniversary! Great food and tons of draw prizes! Rained hard, but no one was deterred.
2013
Technical t-shirts make their debut as well as full chip timing! We also had shattered our previous entry record, registering an astounding 331 participants!
The Mount Albert 5k back in 2005: since then the race has grown in numbers — plus we now have timing bibs, a gantry, race t-shirts and more!
2014
Robin Campbell and Elizabeth Gillis sign on as co-directors for the 12th year! New this year: finishers medals for all 327 participants!
2015
A new participant record - 374 registrants in 2015! We have a new female record holder - Tamara Jewett with a time of 16:32.6. Mario Iozzo - 15:28 (2006) still holds the male record. Congratulations to the overall winner and 1st male, Keaton Smee with a time of 15:57.8.
2016
Another participant record broken - 416 registrants in 2016! Kathleen Miller and Kim Mortson sign on as co-directors. The committee has new and veteran volunteers, all eager to continue the tradition of organizing a fun event in support of the Mount Albert Community.
2017
Another beautiful day for the run and over 400 participants for the 16th anniversary of the run / walk.
2018
Lots of teams and family teams, and fun had by all at the 2018 run.
2019
A rainy weekend for sports day but the weather was beautiful for the run. Another fun family event in the books.
2020, 2021
A global pandemic forced the closure of the race in order keep our community safe.
2022
After a two-year hiatus, we welcomed over 325 participants! The weather was cool but sunny (oh, how the wind was strong)!
2023
The weather was perfect for the 20th race! The run was fun! Thank you to all our particpants for supporting the event.
About The Fair
Mount Albert Sports Day and Spring Fair
Friday May 31, 2024
Saturday June 1, 2024
Sunday June 2, 2024
The Fair is one of the oldest in Ontario, celebrating its 99th year in 2024!
For more information, check out the Mount Albert Sports Day and Spring Fair website.
Volunteers
Get Involved!
If you are:
dedicated to your community
mature and responsible
looking for high school volunteer hours
have family or friends in the race
Become a Race Day Volunteer!
To volunteer now or, for more information regarding volunteering, please email us.
Volunteer Roles:
Race Day Registration: responsible for getting runners signed up for our race! This involves processing same-day registration forms and payment for runners, teams, and families who did not register online.
Race Kit/T-Shirt Handouts: responsible for handing out swag to our runners! After runners show proof of registration, this involves handing out race kits and t-shirts to the runners.
Bag Check: responsible for keeping our runner’s belongings safe! This involves taking bags, purses, backpacks, etc. from the runners and keeping them in a secure location until the end of the race, when they are picked up by their owners.
Course Marshals: responsible for ensuring all runners stay on the race route. This involves notifying runners when to turn or change direction. Being able to offer encouragement to the runners and walkers is a great perk to this position!
Water Station Volunteers: responsible for helping our runners re-fuel during the race! This involves pouring water into cups and handing them to runners as they pass the table.
Food Table Volunteers: responsible for keeping our runners strong after the race! This involves handing out post-race food to runners, including fresh fruits, bagels, etc.
Please contact us at mnt.albert.5km@gmail.com for more information or sign up for the event! We will do our best to make this a wonderful experience!
Pick up your T-Shirts and Bibs
We have multiple T-Shirt sizes. Specify your size during registration. This year, unfortunately XS (extra small) size has been discontinued.
We will have a S (small) T-Shirt for you instead. We apologize for this and hope that the extra material doesn't slow down your little one!
BIB & T-SHIRT PICK UP TIMES:
Thursday May 30, 2024 - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Mount Albert Foodland on Hwy 48
Friday May 31, 2024 - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM* at Mount Albert Foodland on Hwy 48
*Registration closes at 7PM on Friday May 31.
**If you cannot make these pick up times, you can get your bib & T-shirt on race day at the Pavillion at Mount Albert Community Centre, next to the Skate Park, though come early as we do get busy.